Stolthaven Terminals’ storage and distribution capabilities in Louisiana and worldwide make it an industry leader.By Chris Petersen

Knowledge is power, and as one of the primary operating units of Stolt-Nielsen Limited, Stolthaven Terminals has a strong base of knowledge it draws from as it provides storage and distribution services through its worldwide network of terminals. Christopher Popjoy, marketing manager in Braithwaite, La., says the expertise of every operating unit under Stolt-Nielsen gives Stolthaven Terminals a significant edge when it comes to servicing its customers.

“First is our technical expertise on the products that we handle,” Popjoy says. “We have a depth of knowledge from our experience handling products in our tankers group as well as our containers group, and we’re able to pull from a deep bench on products.”

Responding to client needs and investing in ongoing improvements have allowed Port Freeport to become one of the most reputable ports in Texas.

By Eric Slack

Located in Brazoria County, Texas, Port Freeport is one of the top 35 ports in the nation. Thanks to developments in market sectors such as energy and petrochemicals, the port is poised to take advantage of plenty of growth opportunities.

Created in 1927, Port Freeport is tasked with making improvements for the navigation of inland and coastal waterways, and the preservation and conservation of these waterways in aid to navigation. It is ranked 26th in international tonnage and occupies approximately 8,000 acres on deep water. The port has about 500 acres mitigated and ready for development and another 1,800 that is available.

Port Freeport serves a diverse group of clients. They include some of the most significant players in the energy and petrochemical businesses, as well as the traditional container, break-bulk, agricultural and roll-on/roll-off sectors. Approximately 90 percent of its business is energy and chemical feedstocks.

“This is one of the reasons we are ranked 10th in the nation for chemical tankers,” Director of Economic Development Mike Wilson says. “The balance is the traditional cargo such as produce, manufacturing projects, automotive steel and general break-bulk.”

The Port of Indiana – Jeffersonville is expanding its capabilities in multimodal transport with the help of government grants to maintain its aggressive growth.

By Russ Gager

Located in Indiana at the crossroads of America, the Port of Indiana – Jeffersonville has many advantages. First is its location on the Ohio River near Louisville, Ky., and within a 250-mile radius of most of the automotive manufacturers in the Midwest and southern central states. Boasting multimodal barge, rail and truck connections, the port is strengthening its natural advantages through several innovative projects.

In 2015, the Port of Indiana – Jeffersonville handled approximately 1,300 barges, 17,000 rail cars and 180,000 trucks. The port is home to a number of companies in industries such as steel processing, grain and transportation. “Our companies are in a position to take advantage of the most economical transportation via water and great connectivity through multiple class I railroads and a link to interstate highways that you would expect from a port location in a state known as ‘The Crossroads of America,’” Port Director Scott Stewart says.

The Port of Cleveland is investing in infrastructure and services such as the Cleveland-Europe Express line to compete for containerized cargo.

By Tim O’Connor

When the Port of Cleveland developed its last strategic plan in 2011, many of the ideas that resulted stemmed from one important question: How do we take back the cargo lost to coastal ports?

The 2011 plan found that getting back into the container business would give the Port of Cleveland’s manufacturing users another option for moving products in and out of the country. A key part of executing that strategy was the creation of the Cleveland-Europe Express, the only direct, scheduled vessel service between a Great Lakes port and Europe.

The Port of Galveston already is one of the most important ports in the state of Texas, and now it is expanding to accommodate a recent influx of business. Executive Director Mike Mierzwa says the port is in the middle of some major expansions that will not only provide it with greater capacity but also improve the Galveston area’s economic prosperity.

Originally established as a trading post on Galveston Island in the Gulf of Mexico in 1825, the Port of Galveston has grown to cover more than 850 acres and services nearly 1,000 cargo and passenger ships each year. Recently, there has been an uptick in the number and size of passenger cruise ships coming in and out of the port, and so the Port decided the time was right for a major expansion of its cruise terminal. When the expanded terminal finally opens, the Port of Galveston will be able to accommodate larger ships and more passengers than ever before.